# Ryan Karben > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ryan_Karben > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Ryan_Karben.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Karben > Source revision: 1350285128 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) New York State politician Ryan Scott Karben Legislator; Rockland County Legislature In office 1997–2002 Constituency Ramapo, New York Assemblyman; New York State Assembly In office 2003 – May 18, 2006 Preceded by Samuel Colman (Assembly seat from 1984-2002) Succeeded by Ellen Jaffee Constituency 95th Assembly District Village Attorney - Spring Valley, New York In office 2010–2010 Constituency Spring Valley, New York Personal details Born (1974-09-29) September 29, 1974 (age 51) Bronx, NY Party Democratic Spouse Lauren C. Bekritsky Occupation Lawyer **Ryan Scott Karben** is an American attorney and former politician from the state of [New York](/source/New_York_(state)). A [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), Karben represented the state's 95th Assembly District from 2003 to 2006. ## Education and family Karben was born in the borough of [the Bronx](/source/The_Bronx) on September 29, 1974. In 1979, his family moved to [Spring Valley, New York](/source/Spring_Valley%2C_New_York). Karben was a student at the [Frisch School](/source/Frisch_School) in [Paramus, New Jersey](/source/Paramus%2C_New_Jersey).[1] He attended [Yeshiva University](/source/Yeshiva_University) as a Max Stern Distinguished Scholar and graduated magna cum laude in 1996 with a B.A. in English. He then attended the [Columbia Law School](/source/Columbia_Law_School) as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, graduating in 1999.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Karben married Lauren C. Bekritsky, his high school sweetheart, in June 1996. The Karbens have three daughters.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Karben is an Orthodox Jew.[2] ## Assembly career In 1995, Karben lost his initial bid to become county legislator at the age of 21 when he finished fourth in a race for three open positions. In his concession speech at the Holiday Inn in [Suffern, New York](/source/Suffern%2C_New_York), Karben assured his supporters that he considered the election a positive experience and that he would be back.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In 1997, Karben was elected to represent [Ramapo](/source/Ramapo%2C_New_York) in the [Rockland County](/source/Rockland_County%2C_New_York) Legislature. He was the youngest county lawmaker in the State of New York at that time. Karben was selected as majority leader of the Rockland County Legislature in 2001–2002.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In November 2002, Karben was elected to the [New York State Assembly](/source/New_York_State_Assembly) in [Albany](/source/Albany%2C_New_York) to represent the 95th district, which includes the Town of Orangetown and parts of the Town of Ramapo in [Rockland County](/source/Rockland_County%2C_New_York). Karben served on the Energy Committee and led an investigation of [Consolidated Edison](/source/Consolidated_Edison) in 2004. Karben also pushed for tougher sex-offender tracking laws and environmental cleanups at several Rockland County sites.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Karben was involved in a fundraising controversy involving [Charles Kushner](/source/Charles_Kushner), a New Jersey developer who served a prison sentence for hiring prostitutes in an attempt to influence potential witnesses in a [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey) investigation. Kushner had contributed over $40,000 to Karben's campaign, and Karben contributed $2,500 to charity after revelations about Kushner surfaced.[3] ### Resignation On May 18, 2006, Karben unexpectedly announced his resignation from the Assembly. Karben had reportedly been the subject of an internal investigation into alleged sexual advances toward staffers.[4] According to *The New York Times*, sources stated that he had brought three staffers to his Albany residence and watched pornography with them; Karben allegedly stepped down to avoid facing a formal investigation.[2] No formal complaints against Karben were ever filed.[5] Karben's statement regarding his resignation made no reference to the alleged internal inquiry.[6][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] Subsequently, Karben left his position as a partner in the Spring Valley law firm of Kurtzman, Matera, Scuderi, Gurock, and Karben.[7] ## Post-Assembly career Following his resignation, Karben started his own law firm, the Law Office of Ryan Karben, based at his home in [Monsey](/source/Monsey%2C_New_York).[8][*[better source needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Questionable_sources)*] In September 2007, Karben was named Managing Director of [Fleishman-Hillard](/source/FleishmanHillard) Government Relations, a national political consulting and lobbying firm.[5] Karben also held the position of Village Attorney of [Spring Valley, New York](/source/Spring_Valley%2C_New_York), but was fired by the village mayor in 2010 for dereliction of duty.[9] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bergen_Record_October_16,_1991_1-0)** Park, Pearl J. (October 16, 1991). "He Learns Political Science from Firsthand Experience—Frisch Senior is Lobbyist". [Bergen Record](/source/The_Record_(Bergen_County)). Frisch School senior Ryan Karben has strong political convictions -- and an equally strong desire to advocate them. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_2-1) Foderaro, Lisa W.; Medina, Jennifer (May 27, 2006). ["Downfall of a Young and Ambitious Assemblyman Stuns His Constituents (Published 2006)"](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/nyregion/27karben.html). *The New York Times*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_Journal_News_May_19,_2006_3-0)** Netter, Sarah; Steve Lieberman (May 19, 2006). ["Karben's resignation shocks, raises questions"](http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060519/NEWS03/605190342/1017). [The Journal News](/source/The_Journal_News). Retrieved 2006-05-23.[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*] [Alt URL](http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=thejournalnews&f_site=thejournalnews&f_sitename=Journal+News%2C+The+%28Westchester%2C+NY%29&p_theme=gannett&p_product=WJNB&p_action=search&p_field_base-0=&p_text_base-0=Karben%27s+resignation+shocks%2C+raises+questions&Search=Search&p_perpage=10&p_maxdocs=200&p_queryname=700&s_search_type=keyword&p_sort=_rank_%3AD&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date%3AB%2CE&p_text_date-0=wst2006051909292822) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-New_York_Daily_News_May_19,_2006_4-0)** Mahoney, Joe; Ben Smith (May 19, 2006). ["Pol in sex probe quits"](http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/pol-sex-probe-quits-father-3-suddenly-steps-reports-wooed-male-aides-article-1.576945). *[New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News)*. p. 16. Retrieved 2006-05-23. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-New_York_Daily_News_September_17,_2007_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-New_York_Daily_News_September_17,_2007_5-1) Benjamin, Elizabeth (September 17, 2007). ["Pol plans to launch 3rd party for '08 presidential election"](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/17/2007-09-17_pol_plans_to_launch_3rd_party_for_08_pre.html). *Metro News*. [New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News). p. 12. Retrieved 2007-10-07. Former Assemblyman Ryan Karben, a Rockland County Democrat, confirmed he is poised to become a managing director in October at Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations, which he called "a terrific firm with national reach". ... Karben, 32, was an ambitious, rising political star when he abruptly resigned from his Assembly seat in May 2006 amid allegations that he had made sexual advances toward male legislative staffers and interns. No formal complaints were ever filed. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Press_Release_May_18,_2006_6-0)** "Ryan Karben" (Press release). May 18, 2006. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_Journal_News_May_23,_2006_7-0)** Gallagher, Jay; James Walsh (May 23, 2006). ["Karben exits Spring Valley law firm, stays out of view"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180233/http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060523%2FNEWS03%2F605230321%2F1019%2FNEWS03). [The Journal News](/source/The_Journal_News). Archived from [the original](http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/NEWS03/605230321/1019/NEWS03) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-05-23. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Law_Office_2006_8-0)** ["Law Office of Ryan Scott Karben"](http://ryankarben.com/). Ryan Karben. 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-05. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rockland_Journal_News_October_26,_2010_9-0)** Lieberman, Steve (October 26, 2010). ["Karben fired as Spring Valley attorney"](http://archive.lohud.com/article/20101026/NEWS03/10260350). *Rockland Journal News*. Preceded by Howard Mills III New York State Assembly, 95th District 2003–2006 Succeeded by Ellen Jaffee --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ryan Karben](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Karben) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Karben?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.